Yanks notes: CC Sabathia suffers setback, shut down again

The Yankees got more bad news Thursday when CC Sabathia was shut down again with swelling in his right knee.

MINNEAPOLIS — CC Sabathia has been shut down again with inflammation of the right knee, with no immediate timetable for recovery. He’s due to visit Dr. James Andrews to determine the next course of action, inviting the looming possibility of surgery, following an MRI taken Thursday.

“We were hopeful that the swelling would stay away and he would be in our rotation fairly soon,” said concerned manager Joe Girardi. “But it doesn’t appear that that’s going to happen.”

The lefty had been on track to return shortly after the All-Star break. But following his second minor-league rehab stint, Sabathia awoke Thursday with swelling of the knee.

Sabathia was diagnosed with a degenerative knee condition when placed on the disabled list May 11. GM Brian Cashman acknowledged a desire to add a starter via trade prior to Sabathia’s latest setback, though the need has never been more acute.
According to Girardi, Sabathia’s velocity was good during Wednesday’s 3ª innings (five runs, three earned) for Class AA Trenton.

Sabathia did not report any discomfort during the game, but his condition is similar to the original injury. “You can never count 100 percent that [players on the DL] are coming back,” said Girardi, who is still hoping Michael Pineda (strained upper back) returns to the rotation in August.

TEIXIERA RETURNS: Mark Teixeira (2-for-4) returned to the lineup and felt physically better after missing Wednesday’s game, due to having fluid drained from his left knee.

The knee, surgically cleaned of cartilage damage after the 2007 season, had bothered Teixeira for “a couple weeks” and Dr. Chris Ahmad suggested it be drained.

“It just acts up every now and then,” said Teixeira, who has had fluid removed from the knee in past years, but not recently.

ACEVES BANNED: Right-hander Alfredo Aceves, pitching for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, was suspended 50 games after a second positive test for “a drug of abuse,” reportedly marijuana. Aceves posted a 6.52 ERA in 10 games earlier this season for the Yanks.

“It’s not what you want from your players,” Girardi said. “I still think he has the ability to help a team and hopefully he gets it worked out.”